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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.10.24 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the January 10, 2024 Regular Meeting Members Present: Katharine Caron, Katie Putt, Megan Merricks, Cody Fishman, and David McMillen Members Absent: Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid and TJ DeBates, East Metro Area Fisheries Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Putt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of January 10, 2024 Meeting Agenda Moved by Caron and seconded by McMillan to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of December 13, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by Fishman and seconded by Merricks 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. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish & Wildlife Overview of the Vermillion River TJ Debates, East Metro Area Fisheries Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), presented on fisheries management in the Twin Cities and the Vermillion River. Fishing is a $5 billion industry in Minnesota. More trout are stocked in the Vermillion River than any other stream in Minnesota. Approximately 10,000 rainbow trout are stocked in the Vermillion River in the spring with most of them dropped at Rambling River Park. Winter angling is now legal in Vermillion River upstream of Vermillion Fall in Hastings and all tributaries (Dakota County); it is catch-and-release only. The commission asked what they could do; DeBates said provide access and get the word out. There is plenty of parking available at Rambling River Park, but better access to the river is needed. Commission thanked TJ for attending the meeting and great presentation. V. Business Items A. 2024 Work Plan Director Omlid reviewed the addition of the goal to “Develop a Tobacco-Free Parks Policy.”. The only other change was the timing of Goal #6: “Participate in the process of identifying and making improvements at Depot Way Arts Park.”. It was pushed back to late 2024 and carried into 2025, so can seek input from the tenants of the Emery Apartments. Moved by McMillan and seconded by Caron to approve the 2024 work plan. APIF. Motion carried. B. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Outdoor Recreation Grant Program Director Omlid provided an overview of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Outdoor Recreation grant program. The outdoor recreation grant program provides an opportunity to increase and enhance facilities in local and community parks throughout the state. It is a matching grant program for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition, development, and/or redevelopment of local parks and recreation areas. The maximum grant award is $350,000 for a total project of $700,000. Project proposals must include one or more major recreation facilities as defined by the MN DNR. Support facilities are also eligible for funding as part of a grant application that contains at least one facility from the eligible recreation facilities as identified by the DNR. A permanent skatepark is one of the eligible recreation facilities. Public engagement in the Rambling River Park master planning process showed a strong desire for a skatepark in the community. Staff’s recommendation is to apply for the MN DNR Outdoor Recreation grant with the major recreation facility being the skatepark and to be constructed at Feely Fields. Commission discussed the skatepark and pickleball courts. Regarding the pickleball courts, the land must be owned by the city or will be acquired with the grant application. The land where the pickleball courts are proposed is owned by the School District. If pickleball courts are the preferred facility, we would need to work with the School District to acquire the land. The consensus was the skatepark would be awesome as the park system has so little for teenagers and is a population that has fallen through the cracks. Moved by McMillen and seconded by Caron to recommend to city council to authorize the city’s grant application for the MN DNR Outdoor Recreation for a skatepark and support facilities with matching funds of $350,000. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for Trails Director Omlid explained how the bituminous pavement conditions for trails are rated, with each segment of trail being assigned a numerical value from 0 to 100 with 0 pavement being in extremely poor condition and 100 representing new trail. The map identifies the trails in the worst condition in red, orange, and light pink and trails in the best condition and/or new trails in dark green. To maintain current and relevant data, the trail pavement conditions will be rerated every two years. New trail segments will be added to the data and map during the rerating process. As of the day the trails were rated, the average PCI of the trail network in Farmington was 67. Discussion included map ratings, trail conditions and pictures of what staff found in the field, preventative trail maintenance, distresses and what they are caused by, and priority trails. Commission asked if there were funding / grant opportunities in conjunction with the ADA to ensure trails are accessible. Director Omlid wasn’t aware of any, but would look into it. There was discussion about creating an interactive trail map, which could highlight loops and amenities along the trails and parks. Director Omlid is going to visit with the city’s GIS Specialist regarding this. B. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections During February Meeting The commission discussed the chair and vice-chair positions as the election will take place during the February meeting. In addition to running the meeting, the chair meets with Director Omlid a week prior to the meeting to set the agenda. Caron and Merricks aren’t interested currently. Fishman is interested in the chair position. McMillen said he will be the chair or vice- chair if no one else is interested. Chair Putt is fine with either position. VII. Commission Roundtable McMillen: Wanted to congratulate and thank the sponsors, Minnwest Bank, Finch & Daisy, and the McKnight Family for the new passenger van. The van is very nice, safe to drive, and no special driver’s license is required to drive it. Putt: Didn’t have anything to share. Caron: Didn't have anything to share. 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. Rambling River Center Facility Master Plan The Rambling River Center concept plan will be presented to city council at their January 16 meeting at 7 p.m. Please note this is a Tuesday as Monday is a holiday. Neil Anderson, Minnwest Bank, will be at the meeting to present the $50,000 check for construction of an outdoor patio at the Rambling River Center. B. Park Dedication Study Staff met with HKGi today to resume the park dedication study since the opinion in the Burnsville v Puce case has been published. The city attorney reviewed the draft park dedication code language and double checked it with League of Minnesota materials, state statute, other city codes, and the Puce decision. Staff anticipates a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to present the draft park dedication code language. C. Pilot Knob Road Trail Preliminary Design and Open House City and Dakota County staff met with Bolton & Menk in late December to see the preliminary trail layouts and estimated construction cost. The estimated project cost is $2,839,000, which includes two retaining walls. The open house for the project is Tuesday, January 30 from 5-6:30 p.m. at city hall in the lobby. D. S’mores & More S’mores & More is Sunday, January 28 from 2-4 p.m. at Distad Park. Hopefully, we will have ice for skating and snow for snowshoeing. There will be music, hot cocoa, s’mores, and more. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its February 14, 2024 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Fishman and seconded by Caron to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary