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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.10.24 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the April 10, 2024 Regular Meeting Members Present: Megan Merricks, Cody Fishman, Katharine Caron, Katie Putt, and David McMillen Members Absent: Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid and Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Fishman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of April 10, 2024 Meeting Agenda Moved by Caron and seconded by Putt to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of March 13, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by Merricks and seconded by McMillen 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. Schmitz-Maki Arena’s Seasonal Report Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire presented the winter 2023-2024 ice season. There were six (6) more hours rented in the winter 2023-2024 ice season than the 2022-2023 season. Last year snow fell off the roof severing the gas line. Staff received one quote for an ice breaker system for the roof; it was for $27,000. Based on this, staff received quotes to move the gas line to run against the building. Minnesota Energy Resources gave the city a $5,000 grant to move the gas line. In exchange, a dasher board ad was produced and installed for Minnesota Energy Resources. There are two new staff at the Arena this year; Anthony Berra, Parks and Facilities Maintenance Worker, and Molly Burmeister, Lesson Coordinator. The turf has been installed; there was an Arts and Crafts fair last weekend and youth lacrosse practice starts Monday. The Rambling River Center Arts and Crafts Fair is Saturday, May 4. Ice will be reinstalled in early June. V. Business Items VI. Discussion Items A. Park Tour with City of Empire’s Parks and Recreation Commission Director Omlid provided an overview of the upcoming park tour with the City of Empire’s Parks and Recreation Commission. The tour is Wednesday, May 22 at 6 p.m. Commission discussed potential tour stops in Farmington. It was decided to tour Flagstaff Meadows Park, Schmitz- Maki Arena’s drop-off lane and parking lot improvements, and Rambling River Park. At Rambling River Park, will tour / discuss new playground equipment, location for proposed skatepark, trails, and Vermillion River access and stream habitat restoration project. Director Omlid will bring the tour schedule to the May 8 meeting for approval. B. Food Truck Events with City of Empire’s Parks and Recreation Commission The spring food truck event is Friday, May 17 from 5-8 p.m. at Stelzel Ball Fields in Empire. Currently, there are nine (9) food trucks confirmed for the event. Commissioners Merricks and Putt will help from 4:45 – 6:30 p.m. and Commissioners Caron and McMillen from 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. An overview of the subcommittee meeting for the fall event was provided. There was confusion among the subcommittee members what was discussed at the fall joint meeting. Empire didn’t want to pair the fall food truck event with their Sunday night entertainment. They thought it would take away the focus of the FHS Marching Band. There were only three (3) days in September when the ballfields would be available for the event. The Empire Parks and Recreation Commission discussed this at their meeting Monday and were on board with canceling the fall event. They also proposed Empire would secure the food trucks for the spring events as logistically it makes sense since at their ballfields. It would still be promoted as a joint event, staff and/or commission members would work the event, as well as garbage pick-up. Commission agreed to cancel the fall event and continue with the spring event. The consensus was if only going to do one event going forward to make it more of an event. This could include yard games, balloon artist, face painting, and photo booth. The Parks and Recreation Department has bag boards we could bring this year. Director Omlid will follow-up with Empire to see if they are good with bag boards this year and exploration of a bigger event for spring 2025. C. City Council Work Session Director Omlid provided an overview of the most recent work sessions with city council. The commission discussed potential topics for a work session with city council. Ideas included Depot Way Arts Park, Vermillion River and presentation by Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Rambling River Park improvements, trail system and more connections, and what they would like to see improved on the commission’s side. The thought is to have a fall work session after the parks and facilities tour and continue to discuss potential topics for discussion. D. 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: Didn’t have anything to share. Caron: Asked if Eastview Avenue will be finished to the south to 208th Street W. Crystal’s Cuddle Bugs is interested in using the trails in Middle Creek Park. The master plan for Middle Creek Park proposes western parcel park acquisition if it becomes available. This would be the best access for the park as the other entrance is off a cul-de-sac with no parking. Merricks: Asked about motorized scooters on the trails. Director Omlid thought City Code is silent on electric scooters as e-bikes are allowed, but will review Code and let commission know. Fishman: Didn't have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report/Updates Director Omlid provided information on the following: A. Rambling River Park The application for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Outdoor Recreation Grant for design and construction of the skatepark was submitted on April 1. We should hear in June if we receive the grant. Parks Maintenance staff have been removing the tennis court and hauling fill in. The playground equipment was delivered this morning. Staff met at the park with a Resource Conservationist from Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District about native prairie restoration. Unfortunately, the area that was going to be restored there is reed canary grass, which is an invasive species. If anything was planted there, the reed canary grass would choke it out. It was decided to wait until 2025 to explore a native prairie restoration in the area where the playground is currently. B. Rambling River Center and VFW Steak Fry Staff met with city council in a work session in March to discuss proceeding with the Rambling River Center renovations as a single-phase project and include several of the Kraus-Anderson facility condition assessment items in the overall project. Finance staff presented the tax impact for issuing tax abatement bonds for the unfunded portion of the project. The city council directed staff to proceed with a single-phase project and include Kraus-Anderson facility condition assessment items. Staff is hoping to bring the Agreement with JLG Architects to Monday’s (April 15) city council meeting for approval. The VFW Steak Fry benefiting the Rambling River Center is Saturday, May 18 from 4-8 p.m. Price is $15 which includes a Von Hanson’s grilled steak, baked potato, salad, and dessert. C. North Creek Greenway Trail The erosion control fence was installed and tree removals should start soon. The schedule is as follows: trail construction starts in early May, bridge truss placement and bridge deck construction in mid-May, crossing work at 173rd St. W. in Lakeville in July, trail paving in late July, and landscaping, node items, and seeding / restoration in August. Substantial completion and punch list items are anticipated for mid-August, weather dependent. D. Regional Solicitation Grant Application for North Creek Greenway Trail Staff applied for a Regional Solicitation Grant for the remaining North Creek Greenway trail in Farmington from Riverview Elementary School to Mystic Meadows. In early March, staff were notified the project scored #15. In late March, staff learned there was a scoring mistake on the city’s application resulting in an additional 84 points and moving the project to #5. Staff received an email from the Met Council with two additional questions to see if this project would be a good fit for Active Transportation monies. These dollars are from a regional sales tax increase to provide additional resources for transportation investments. Dakota County staff noticed there was an error on our application, which probably dropped the project to #7. We should find out relatively soon if awarded Active Transportation dollars to complete the project. Construction would need to start by 2026. E. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trout Stocking of Vermillion River The DNR will be stocking approximately 3,500 rainbow trout (11-13 inches) in the Vermillion River Friday around 9:30 a.m. The stream trout season fishing opener is Saturday (April 13). The DNR will be stocking the Vermillion River two more times this spring with totals of 10,000 rainbows by Memorial Day. F. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) No Child Left Inside Grant The Parks and Recreation Department received a No Child Left Inside Grant for approximately $13,375 to purchase snowshoes and archery equipment. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck is excited to use the snowshoes for programming at the Rambling River Center. G. Community Event with Tanaka Tanaka is a non-profit that combats social isolation. The Director of Tanaka contacted Director Omlid to explore collaboration opportunities. Director Omlid and Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck met with the Director of Tanaka. We are going to collaborate with Tanaka for an all- ages murder mystery with light appetizers at the Rambling River Center. “Murder on the Rambling River Express” will be Thursday, August 15 at 6 p.m. and is free to participate. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck is working with the Rambling River Model Train Club for them to collaborate on the event as well. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its May 8, 2024 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Caron and seconded by Putt to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary