Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.12.23 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the July 12, 2023 Regular Meeting Members Present: Katharine Caron, Ashley Crabtree, Katie Putt, and David McMillen Members Absent: Megan Merricks Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid and Gabrielle Grinde, HKGi I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Putt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval July 12, 2023 Meeting Agenda Moved by Caron and seconded by Crabtree to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of June 14, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by McMillen and seconded by Caron 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. Rambling River Park Draft Preferred Concept Plan Gabrielle Grinde, HKGi, reviewed the project schedule, public input from the May 31 open house at the park and online survey, priority ranking results of improvements, and recommendations for preferred concept. Gabbi presented the overall preferred park concept and the detail preferred park concept. Discussion and recommendations on the overall and detail preferred park concept included moving the new paved trail to the west side of the Xcel substation, 10 pickleball courts and one (1) tennis court behind Dodge Middle School, pedestrian crossings at Denmark Avenue and Division Street, remove Field #3 at Feely Fields and replace with a skatepark, and keep Fields #1 and #2 as they are currently, remove the concessions and restroom building at Feely Fields, move the trail railroad crossing north in the park and add a pedestrian bridge, don’t include the new restroom in the shelter, but near the splash pad, a simple, low maintenance, multi-use Bandshell, and a splash pad with in-ground spray elements. HKGi will refine the concept plan based on the parks and recreation commission’s feedback and will prepare a detailed cost estimate. Director Omlid will present this information at the parks and recreation commission’s August 9 meeting. Based on commission’s input, the preferred concept plan will be updated and presented to city council at their August 21, 2023 meeting. V. Business Items A. Parks and Facilities Tour Schedule with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board and City Council Director Omlid provided an overview of the parks and facilities tour schedule for August 30 at 6 p.m. Daisy Knoll Park wasn’t included in this year’s tour due to number of stops and time allotted for tour. Daisy Knoll Park will be added to the 2024 tour. Moved by McMillen and seconded by Caron to approve the parks and facilities schedule and locations. APIF. Motion carried. B. 2024 Parks and Recreation Department Fees Director Omlid reviewed the proposed 2024 parks and recreation department fees and the increases to Schmitz-Maki Arena ice rental, summer outdoor use fee, and Rambling River Center banquet room additional cleaning. The fee increases are to help offset increasing operational expenses. The proposed fees at the Rambling River Center were reviewed and recommended for approval by the Rambling River Center Advisory Board. Commission asked if the $20 increase per hour in ice rental rates was enough to cover the increasing operational expenses. Director Omlid stated the increase should be close; the uncertainty of expenses such as natural gas and building repair / maintenance make it challenging. Moved by Crabtree and seconded by McMillen to approve the 2024 parks and recreation fees and recommend city council approve the fees. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Meeting with City of Empire’s Parks and Recreation Commission Commission discussed potential dates and topics for the annual joint meeting with the City of Empire’s parks and recreation commission. The preferred date is Monday, October 23 and the back-up date is Wednesday, October 11. The joint meeting would be at 7 p.m. with the regular commission meeting at 6 p.m. The meeting will be in Farmington this year. Potential agenda items include food truck events, holiday programs and events, update from Empire on the transition to a city, and park and trail improvements. Director Omlid will email the preferred and back-up date and agenda items to Empire’s City Clerk and the chair of the parks and recreation commission. B. Review 2023 Work Plan Progress Chair Putt reviewed the progress of the goals and objectives of the 2023 work plan. VII. Commission Roundtable Crabtree: Mentioned this would be her last meeting as she is moving to Lakeville. She emailed city council asking them to make sure the improvements at Rambling River Park get done including the skatepark. Get creative with the funding. Continue to evaluate if we need or don’t need current parks. Someone will need to contact the food trucks for the fall letting them know they are the new point person. Still need a sandwich truck as BD Sammies can’t be there. Will still be the biggest advocate for parks and recreation in Farmington. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. Caron: Didn’t have anything to share. Putt: Didn’t have anything to share. Merricks: N/A Director Omlid thanked Commissioner Crabtree for her service to the parks and recreation commission, city, community, and parks and recreation department. She will be missed and has been a strong and passionate advocate for parks and recreation. VIII. Staff Report/Updates Director Omlid provided information on the following: A. Park Dedication Study Staff and HKGi met June 22 for a progress update. The maps showing a one-mile buffer from community parks and three-quarter mile buffer from proposed neighborhood parks were reviewed. There hasn’t been a decision in the Burnsville case yet. B. Akin Road Improvements Akin Road improvements started July 7. Access the warming house behind Dodge Middle School from the south if possible. Substantial completion by August 15, 2023 and final completion by September 1, 2023. C. Music and Movies in the Park Movie in the Park will be Friday, July 28 at Lake Julia Park. The movie is Ferris Buellers Day Off. Kidsdance starts at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk (approximately 8:40 p.m.). The next Music in the Park is Wednesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at Rambling River Park. The Pan-Handlers Steel Drum Band will be performing. D. Pilot Knob Trail Preliminary Design The Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Bolton and Menk and the Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County will go to city council Monday (July 17) for approval. The kick- off meeting for the project will be end of next week or the beginning of the following week. E. Trails Pavement Condition Index Map The draft Pavement Condition Index (PCI) map of the trails was received June 30. Staff is currently reviewing the map to get questions, concerns, missing segments, etc. to Goodpointe so they can update it. Director Omlid will bring this information to a future parks and recreation commission meeting once the map is updated and final. F. Rambling River Center Raffle Fundraiser with the Farmington Rotary Raffle tickets are currently on sale for $52 apiece. There are 52 drawings for $100 and 4 drawings for $250. All names drawn will be thrown back in meaning you can win more than once. A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold. As of Monday, the Rambling River Center had sold 62 raffle tickets. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a ticket, please get in touch with Director Omlid. G. Rambling River Center Passenger Van Staff received notice June 27 the passenger van was in production. Staff estimates at least one month before the van is received. The van will likely go by rail car to Cottage Grove, trucked up to the dealership in Hibbing, and driven here for delivery. Staff is working with Blackfire to wrap the van with a thank you to all the donors and a special thank you to Minnwest Bank, Finch and Daisy, and the McKnight Family. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its August 9, 2023 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Crabtree and seconded by McMillen to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary