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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.13.24 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the March 13, 2024 Regular Meeting Members Present: Megan Merricks, Cody Fishman, and David McMillen Members Absent: Katharine Caron and Katie Putt Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid, Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire, Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck, and Recreation Supervisor Emilee Shearer I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Fishman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of March 13, 2024 Meeting Agenda Moved by McMillen and seconded by Merricks to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of February 14, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by Merricks 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. B. Parks and Recreation Department 2023 Annual Report Director Omlid, Parks and Facilities Supervisor Pire, Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck, and Recreation Supervisor Shearer presented the 2023 annual report and goals for 2024. This included information from the Schmitz-Maki Arena, Facility Maintenance, Parks Maintenance, Recreation, Community Partners, Rambling River Center, 2024 Goals, and Board and Commission. The commission thanked staff for putting the report together and presenting it. Commission also thanked staffed for all their hard work. Staff asked if there were any suggestions to improve the presentation or things missing as presenting it to city council at their meeting Monday. A recommendation was to add a slide for Dew Days as the city and Parks and Recreation Department are a partner and offer events for the celebration; also include the number of volunteers. V. Business Items VI. Discussion Items A. Tobacco-Free Parks Policy Director Omlid reviewed Dakota County’s Ordinance 107 Section 3.3 regarding Smoking and Electronic Delivery Device use. The County is currently looking at updating the language including possibly removing the misdemeanor that is attached to the ordinance. The Commission reviewed and confirmed the discussion from the February 14, 2024 parks and recreation commission meeting. The commission agreed parks and trails excluding parking lots should always be tobacco-free. Director Omlid asked about city facilities including the Rambling River Center and Schmitz-Maki Arena. The Rambling River Center has groups who have rented the facility since the opening of the Center; they have members who smoke. We would hate to lose them if we moved to a tobacco-free policy. There have been zero issues and they dispose of their cigarette butts in the plastic smoker’s receptacle outside. The consensus from commission was to leave city facilities out of the tobacco-free policy to maintain relationships with user groups and we aren’t having any problems with smokers at the facilities. We need to make sure we have a visible receptacle for disposal of butts. Director Omlid will bring a draft tobacco-free park policy to a future meeting for feedback. B. Parks and Facilities Tour with Rambling River Center Advisory Board and City Council Director Omlid provided an overview of the park tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board and City Council. Last year the tour was on August 30 from 6-8 p.m. Feedback from one Advisory Board member was to push the tour to September when it might be cooler. The concern with moving later in the fall is the sunset. There was discussion that if the tour was moved to September would need to move the start time to 5:30 p.m., which might be hard for those working. The commission identified Wednesday, August 28 from 6-8 p.m. for the tour. Initial suggestions for tour stops include the Schmitz-Maki Arena, Flagstaff Meadows Park, Rambling River Park to see the new playground equipment, and through Jim Bell Park and Preserve to see the progress of the removal of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) trees and buckthorn. Commission will have another discussion regarding tour stops at a future meeting. C. Bike Pedestrian Plan Priorities Director Omlid provided an overview of the Bike Pedestrian Plan (Plan) priorities that were recently completed and ones currently in progress. Educational Programs including the upcoming bicycle helmet campaign / bike rodeo with the Parks and Recreation and Police Departments would be a Plan priority that could be accomplished as doesn’t take much financial resources and the commission could be involved in some way. The bicycle helmet campaign / bike rodeo is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 1 from 9-11 a.m. There will be a bike ride as part of this event, thinking a short and long ride. Commission thought this was a priority they could help with. Director Omlid will bring details to the April or May meeting, depending on when they are finalized. D. 2024 Work Plan Progress Director Omlid reviewed the progress of the goals and objectives of the 2024 work plan. VII. Commission Roundtable McMillen: Asked if the bollards at the Schmitz-Maki Arena were going to be cut to the same size as the first two to the west or left as is. Director Omlid stated no action has been taken on this yet. Putt: N / A Caron: N / A 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. Park Dedication Study Planning and parks and recreation staff are meeting with HKGi next week to review and discuss the fee analysis. The next step would be a joint work session with the Planning Commission. We are thinking of an April work session; will email a Doodle poll for availability. B. Food Truck Events with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission Reminder the Spring Food Truck Event is Friday, May 17 from 5-8 p.m. at Stelzel Ball Fields in Empire. The subcommittee for the Fall Event met and there was some confusion from the joint meeting about pairing the food truck event with Empire’s Sunday night entertainment series. The Farmington High School Marching Band is performing in Empire that night. There were concerns with parking and traffic flow with the construction of Kwik Trip. The Summer-Send Off Event was recommended for the name of the event. C. Park Tour with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission Empire Parks and Recreation Commission decided May 22 for the park tour. They requested to see at least one of our more recent parks and then open to other stops we recommend. They asked if there were places we would like to see. The commission wants to see the disc golf course. D. Rambling River Park Staff haven’t heard from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding the draft grant application for the Outdoor Recreation Grant for design and construction of a skatepark. The final grant application is due April 1. Parks Maintenance staff will start removing the tennis court fence and surface April 1. Playground equipment will probably be delivered the week of April 15. E. Pilot Knob Road Trail Staff heard from Dakota County regarding the request to use the County’s pedestrian crossing analysis tool for the at-grade crossings on Pilot Knob Road. Given the speeds on the corridor and multiple lanes of traffic at these intersections (right and left turn lanes at these intersections in addition to the through lanes), the County does not have any solutions they would recommend improving safety for crossing at-grade. The grade separated crossing is going to be the safest solution, so it is worth spending more time focusing on that possibility. The proposal from Bolton & Menk states they will evaluate the portion of trail along Pilot Knob Road between 197th Street and 203rd Street where existing geometry and elevations lends itself to be the best fit for the underpass. A preliminary construction cost estimate will be developed for the underpass and outcomes of the evaluation will be included in the feasibility report. The feasibility report is anticipated to be presented to the city council in May. F. Farmington Currents Summer Edition The Currents Summer Edition was dropped off to city hall and the Farmington Post Office today. Residents could see them in their mailboxes as early as tomorrow. The summer edition was moved up a month based on feedback from parents / guardians that they had already registered their children for other programs / activities by the time they received the Currents. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its April 10, 2024 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by McMillen and seconded by Merricks to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary