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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.09.23 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the August 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Members Present: Katharine Caron, Cody Fishman, Megan Merricks, Katie Putt, and David McMillen Members Absent: Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid, Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire, and Katherine Engebretson I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Putt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval August 9, 2023 Meeting Agenda Moved by Caron and seconded by McMillen to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of July 12, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by Merricks 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. Introduction of New Parks and Recreation Commission Member Cody Fishman introduced himself to the commission. Commission members introduced themselves and welcomed Cody to the parks and recreation commission. C. Schmitz-Maki Arena’s Seasonal Reports Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire presented the winter 2022-2023 ice season and spring 2023 turf and event rental season. Several improvements were made to the Arena over the past year including water heater and Modine Make Up Air Unit replaced, parking lots paved, new lights and security cameras in the parking lot, driveway drop off lane, lights above bleachers replaced with LED lights, and gaps in dashed boards adjusted and fixed. Pire detailed the process to remove graffiti on park amenities and trails. V. Business Items A. Rambling River Park Draft Preferred Concept Plan Director Omlid provided an overview of the updated draft preferred concept plan. Dakota County recommended the trail on the south side of Elm St. / County Road 50 be updated to show an alignment that improves a few of the curves. This is updated on this preferred concept plan. Commission suggested more access to the Vermillion River for fishing on the south side of Elm St. / County Road 50. Katherine Engebretson recommended staff and commission look at the spider’s web play equipment at the Eagles Nest for Rambling River Park. She also inquired about the ballfields by Riverview Elementary School and finding a solution for foul balls as her house has been hit. Director Omlid mentioned those are School District fields and recommended talking to them and Farmington Baseball Association. Commission thought the updated draft preferred concept plan was good and there was something for everyone. VI. Discussion Items A. Fall Food Truck Event with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission The fall food truck event with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission is Friday, September 8 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Stelzel Ball Fields in Empire. Currently, there are six (6) food trucks confirmed and one (1) food truck tentative for the event. Suggestions included spreading out the picnic tables and putting some towards the western edge of the parking lot and remember gloves. Commissioners Merricks and Putt will help from 4:45 – 6:30 p.m. and Commissioner Caron from 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. B. Smoking and Tobacco Use in Parks Director Omlid reviewed an attempt in 2007-2008 to institute a tobacco free parks policy. The policy failed due to a lack of a motion by city council. In May 2023, Governor Walz signed into law legalizing adult use cannabis in Minnesota. Use is allowed in private residences, or on private property not generally open to the public. Thus, use in public parks is not generally allowed. Commission asked how much of an issue cigarette smoking and tobacco use is in the parks. Staff responded haven’t ever been contacted about this nor seen it happening in the parks. Several of the commission members stated they haven’t seen cigarette smoking in the parks either. Overall, the commission didn’t think it was an issue, have bigger fish to fry, and didn’t want to work on a policy that still might not be approved. Commission asked what other cities were doing for enforcement of tobacco free parks policies. Consensus was cannabis is a bigger issue in the parks and on trails. The commission was still interested in Dakota County Public Health coming to a future meeting to present on their Commercial Tobacco-Free Living program and learning what other cities in Dakota County are doing for enforcement. Director Omlid will follow up with Dakota County Public Health to get them scheduled for an upcoming meeting. C. Review 2023 Work Plan Progress Chair Putt reviewed the progress of the goals and objectives of the 2023 work plan. VII. Commission Roundtable McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. Caron: Didn’t have anything to share. Putt: Asked about community gardens. There used to be community gardens behind the bathhouse at Evergreen Knoll Park. These gardens were started in 2021. They were removed in 2022 as there wasn’t anyone interested in taking over the program and the fencing was falling apart. There are community gardens at Meadowview Elementary School that Community Education manage and the city and parks and recreation partners on. Merricks: Didn’t have anything to share. Fishman: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report/Updates Director Omlid provided information on the following: A. Meeting with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission Empire Parks and Recreation Commission agreed to the preferred date of Monday, October 23 at 7 p.m. at Farmington City Hall for the joint meeting. Empire will discuss and email agenda items to Director Omlid closer to the meeting date. B. Akin Road Improvements Restoration work and paving the bituminous wear course is happening this week. Next week shouldering, signage, and striping is scheduled to happen. C. Pilot Knob Trail Preliminary Design The topographic survey and wetland delineation started and will take approximately three weeks to complete. D. Flagstaff Meadows Park Staff were informed the playground equipment will not be here in August as originally thought, but now anticipated to ship at the end of September. The shade structure installation is scheduled to start the week of August 21. McNamara Contracting Inc. will be constructing the trail. E. Rambling River Center Community Project Funding Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) is completing the Environmental Review and emailed staff a draft of the report yesterday. Staff is looking to hire a consultant to develop a facility master plan. F. Facility Condition Assessments Kraus-Anderson completed facility condition assessments for eight (8) city facilities including the Rambling River Center and Schmitz-Maki Areana. The facility condition assessment team conducted site interviews and comprehensive review of the facilities in late July. Kraus- Anderson will report the preliminary findings to the city council at their work session in September. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its September 13, 2023 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Merricks and seconded by Caron to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary