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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.14.24 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the February 14, 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 Heidi Fishman I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Putt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of February 14, 2024 Meeting Agenda Moved by Fishman and seconded by Caron to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of January 10, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by McMillen and seconded by Fishman 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. V. Business Items A. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections Chair Putt called for nominations for the chair position. McMillen nominated Fishman for the chair position and seconded by Merricks. APIF. Motion carried. Newly elected Chair Fishman asked for nominations for the vice-chair position. Putt nominated McMillen for vice-chair and seconded by Caron. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Parks and Recreation Commission Group Photo A group photo of the commission was taken in council chambers. The photo will be used for public purposes including on the city’s website and in the parks and recreation department’s annual report. B. Open Meeting Law Review The commission reviewed the open meeting law information from the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC). Director Omlid reviewed the responsibilities of staff and commission members regarding the open meeting law. Director Omlid stated the best course of action is to discuss city business at the meetings and call staff with questions and/or if you need more information. C. Review Parks and Recreation Commission Bylaws The commission reviewed the parks and recreation commission bylaws. The bylaws were created and approved by the parks and recreation commission and city council. They were developed to hold members accountable as a few members wouldn’t show up for meetings leaving the commission without a quorum. The bylaws provide direction on Commission Rules, Meetings, and Officers. The bylaws will be reviewed annually in February as new members start their term in February. D. Park Tour with City of Empire’s Parks and Recreation Commission Director Omlid provided an overview of the park tour with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2017, there was a joint tour with the commissions. It was a fall tour from 6-8 p.m. with tour stops at the disc golf course, ball fields, and two parks in Empire. In Farmington, there were three parks and the new trail in Rambling River Park to look at the Vermillion River restoration work that was completed. The commission discussed the tour and decided the preferred date was Wednesday, May 22 and back-up date was Wednesday, May 29. The tour would be from 6-8 p.m. Suggestions for tour stops in Farmington include Sunny Hills Park, Flagstaff Meadows Park, Prairie Pines Park, Schmitz-Maki Arena drop-off lane, Rambling River Park to discuss improvements and Vermillion River access for fishing, and trails needing to be fixed. E. Tobacco-Free Parks Policy Director Omlid provided an overview of the previous discussions commission had in fall 2023 regarding exploring a tobacco-free parks policy. Staff from Dakota County Public Health and Tobacco-Free Alliance presented a tobacco-free parks overview to the commission in November 2023. Following the presentation and subsequent discussion, “Develop a Tobacco-Free Parks Policy” was included in the commission's 2024 work plan. The commission discussed what should be in a tobacco-free parks policy and how it should look. The consensus was to keep the policy simple, don’t overcomplicate, and not tons of exceptions. Commission thought the policy should be voluntary compliance. Commission asked what does Dakota County have for a policy? Director Omlid wasn’t sure, but could find out and bring the information back to a future meeting. Commission was interested in all parks and trails being always tobacco-free. There was discussion regarding signage regarding the policy and having a QR code that links to the policy or Minnesota Clean Air Act. Director Omlid will develop a draft policy and bring it to a future commission meeting for feedback. F. 2024 Work Plan Progress Director Omlid reviewed the progress of the goals and objectives of the 2024 work plan. VII. Commission Roundtable McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. Putt: Asked if arrows were going to be put in the west parking lot at Schmitz-Maki Arena to improve traffic flow. Also mentioned still can’t see past the pillars in the drop-off lane. Director Omlid will investigate this. 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. Pilot Knob Road Trail Open House The open house for the Pilot Knob Road trail was held on January 30 with approximately 40 people attending. Most of the feedback was positive. Director Omlid and the Project Manager (engineer) from Bolton & Menk met with two homeowners onsite. City, Dakota County, and Bolton & Menk staff are meeting next week to discuss comments heard at the open house and determine if there are any that warrant a deeper dive into prior to beginning the feasibility report. B. Rambling River Park HKGi is currently writing the grant for the skate park and support facilities. The DNR will provide feedback on draft applications submitted by February 29, which HKGi plans to do, so the city’s grant application can be as competitive as possible. Approval to submit the grant and the funding match of $350,000 from Liquor Operations Community Projects fund is on the agenda for city council’s meeting Tuesday. Staff will be attending the Farmington Area Veteran’s Committee meeting tomorrow night as they are discussing the shelter and meeting with the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization and Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District about native prairie restoration. C. North Creek Greenway Trail Staff met with Dakota County to discuss the North Creek Greenway trail. The County is in the process of writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 30% design of the trail from Farmington to Whitetail Woods. They will take design to 60% through Rambling River Park. The County is going to meet with three property owners in Farmington about acquiring / purchasing right of way and/or land. D. Rambling River Center The city council approved the proposed concept plan for the Rambling River Center at their January 16 meeting. The council asked about doing all the improvements as a single-phase project and how much money would be saved. Staff met with JLG Architects and Kraus- Anderson about design through construction and are waiting for a proposal. The Rambling River Center Advisory Board discussed the project at their meeting Monday and prefer to do all the renovations at once. E. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Seventy-five Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) trees were removed in parks in 2023 including Westview, Tamarack, Rambling River, Pine Knoll, Hill Dee, and Jim Bell Park and Preserve. As part of a DNR grant, there will be a one for one replanting in these parks. Staff is currently removing EAB trees along the trail in Jim Bell Park and Preserve and then will move to the trail in Middle Creek Park. As of December 4, 2023, 375 boulevard trees were removed including 325 ash trees and the remainder were dead/hazard trees of other species. Five hundred seventy trees were trimmed, 449 stumps were removed, and 1,060 ash trees were treated in the boulevard in 2023. F. Food Truck Events with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission A subcommittee of Emilee (Farmington), Kate (Farmington), Tonya (Empire), and Kasey (Empire) are meeting soon to discuss the fall food truck event. Reminder the spring event is May 17 from 5-8 p.m. at Stelzel Ball Fields in Empire. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its March 13, 2024 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Caron and seconded by Merricks to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary