Minutes Richfield Friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
7:00 PM January 16th, 2014
The meeting was called to order by Roger Swanson. Those present were
Roger Swanson, Dave Delzer, ,Ahmad Ansari, Eric Melendez and our
ambassador to Heredia, Cynthia Mandl. She and her husband Ken have just
returned from Costa Rica. Guests included Andre, filling in for Rbri
Coleman-Woods, Joan Swanson and Ken Mandl.
Minutes for November were approved. Andre reported no change in the
treasury.
Cynthy reported status of the following:
• The sculpture we hope to acquire for Heredia Park. It has been endorsed
by the Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation. It is anticipated to be
one or two youth soccer, sex undete�mined, players bursting upon a
soccer ball somehow suspended in midair being booted toward goal.
• The status of Richfield Park in Heredia. Budget and park access
considerations are being finalized. Details regarding the planning
process are in the process of being translated.
• Support of an orphana e�. The history and accomplishments of a Costa
Rican couple in establishing this facility and the generosity of donor(s)
suggest that it is something the commission may want to tour and support
in the future.
We are excited to have Cynthy back among us and thoroughly appreciate the
contacts she and Ken made during the two years they were in Costa Rica._
The reappointment of Eric Melendez as youth member was noted. He is
valued as a member of this commission.
The commission continues to look forward to sponsoring a tour to Costa
Rica in 2015. We may ask Cynthy to show some of her pictures.
Our next meeting will be February 2ptn
Respectfully Submitted David Delzer, Vice Chair
Richfield friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
for March 12, 2014
Richfield Municipal Building - Heredia Room
7:00 PM
Special meeting time 8:00 PM
Attendance: Rori Woods, Ahmad Ansari, Roger Swanson, Eric Melendez, Cynthy
Mandl and Marty Kirsch
Excused Absence: Dave Delzer
Visitors: Cynthy Mandl and Marty Kirsch
New Commission Member: Mary Olafson
Minutes of January 16th meeting approved (Note no meeting minutes for February 20th
- lack of a quorum)
Treasurer's report - approved (Banking Address has been updated.)
Annual Election of Officers:
Roger Swanson- Chairman
Ahmad Ansari - Vice Chairman
Treasurer - Rori Woods
Secretary - Mary Olafson
Heredia updates:
Cynthy Mandl presented the proposal for the Richfield Park in Heredia. The CR
Heredia Park committee is looking at many possible funders. The park is a community
gathering space with BBQ/picnic areas and play ground. The members of the RFCC
will review.
Old Business:
The Oxcart at City Hall has been moved to avoid heat stress. New location is by the
flags.
New Business:
The commission member orientation meeting was March 12, 2014 at 6:30pm.
.:y'_ ... ' . . - .. . � . .. . . . . - ..
Unity in the Community will be held on May 15th. The RFCC will have a table there.
The members discussed marketing materials and Rori will submit ideas via email to the
members to review. We will continue to offer CR coffee and commission information
during the event. Volunteers and marketing materials will be discussed at our next
meeting.
Next meeting is April 17th in the Heredia room.
Respectfully submitted by: Mary Olafson, Secretary RFCC
Richfield Friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
for April 17th 2014
Richfield Municipal Building - Heredia Room
7:00 PM
Attendance: Rori Woods, Ahmad Ansari, Roger Swanson, Cynthy Mandl, Mary
Olafson, and Dave Delzer
Excused Absence: Eric Melendez
Meeting Min�tes: Minutes,of March,l2th meeting approved
- .... . . � .. �SP: � . . . . . ' .._ ' ... .., . , �
Treasurer's report: Approved (Banking Address has been updated.) $2,953.03 total
accounts and CD 1,a84:07�grand total of $4,037
Heredia updates:
Sculpture updates: The �sculptor, from Heredia, Guillermo He�rnandez Gonzalez, who
provided Aliariza for Kirclibak Gardens is being considered to create a sculpture at the
multiple center (City Hall) . The Richfield Arts Commission will review. If it is funded and
approved, Ahmad sugg�st'that Delta Airlines might transport/ship the sculpture as a
donation.
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Richfield Park in Heredia:``Matching donation was discussed: Would matching to the
way fo go�`Cynthy will'reach out and see what the costs�nd other sponsership/ ' �'
donations are available.�`
Marketing Materials:
Cynthy and Rori are reviewing. Possibly a Try-Fold brochure.
Old Business:
Unity in the Community is May 15th 5-7PM. Roger and Dave will set-up around
4:OOpm. We will serve CR Coffee and Hot Chocolate, °;Cynthy, Roger, Dave, and Mary
. , , : .
will help. � ,
Since May 15th is the next date of our meeting and the Unity in the community event,
we voted that June 19th will be our next official meeting.
New Business:
VVe had art'interesting discussion on the possible new band shell in Richfield and if the
Heredia municipal band and the Richfield concert band could share music. Mary will
contact David Butler and see if the Richfield band would be interested.
Richfield Friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
Richfield Municipal Buiiding - Heredia Room 7:OOPM for June 19th 2014
Attendance: Rori Woods, Roger Swanson, Cynthy Mandl, and Mary Olafson
Excused Absence: Eric Melendez, Dave Delzer and Ahmad Ansari
Meeting Minutes: Minutes of he April 17th meeting were approved with noted
corrections
Treasurer's report: Approved (Banking Address has been updated.) $2,953.03 total
accounts and CD 1,084.07 grand total of $4,037
Heredia updates:
Sculpture updates: General discussion. No changes or updates at this time.
Richfield Park in Heredia: On hold. No updates from Heredia.
Marketing Materials:
Reviewed initial Try-Fold brochure that Rory designed and Cynthy provided pictures.
Having a FaceBook page was also discussed.
Old Business:
Unity in the Community is May 15th 5-7PM. We served CR coffee and hot chocolate.
Thank you Cynthy, Roger, Dave, and Mary for helping! It was mighty chilly evening!
New Business:
Penn Fest - Sunday Sept 21st 12-4pm. Deadline is Sept 8th to sign up.
Linda Zacher, a former committee member, donated some items from Cost Rica. The
committee will display some of the items at City Hall.
Adjourn - 8:45pm
Next meeting is Julyl7th in the Heredia room
Respectfully submitted by: Mary Olafson, Secretary RFCC
Richfield Friendship City Commission
Meeting Minutes
7:00 PM
September 18 2014
The meeting was called to order by Ahmed Ansari. Those present were Ahmed
Ansari, Dave Delzer, Rori Coleman-Woods, Tenzin Dolkar and our Friendship City
Ambassador, Cynthy Mandl. Roger Swanson and Mary Olafson were excused.
Meeting Minutes will be ready for our next meeting. The treasurer's report was
given; there is $1859.76 in checking. $78.48 was spent on a banner for Pennfest
and spending 67.32 on 50 copies of flyers for Pennfest was also approved.
We welcomed Tenzin Dolkar as a youth member of our commission. We are glad
to have her join us.
Cynthy Mandl gave an update on items regarding Heredia. She covered the
soccer player(s) scuplture, the progress on Richfield Park in Heredia, the Adopt a
Tree effort and fundraising for the above. Our next trip to Costa Rica is tentivally
scheduled for March 2016.
Ahmed, Roger, Cynthy, Rori, Dave and Eric will be available for Pennfest,
September 21 st. Dave & Cynthy will prepare coffee to be given away. Eric will
see if we can use his neighbor's canopy. Activities for people to be involved in
include: Drinking free Costa Rican coffee, Youth kicking a soccer ball into a youth
net; approval is given to purchase a net, Coloring pictures and Hand grinding
coffee beans.
We will meet at 11AM and be there until after 4PM. We are in spot #7 between
68th and 70th Streets.
Our next meeting will be October 16th,2014. The annual report to the City Council
will be in October. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, David Delzer
Richfield Friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
Richfield Municipal Building— Heredia Room 7:00 PM October 16t", 2014
Attendance: Rori Woods, Arhmad Ansari; Roger Swanson, Dave Delzer, and Mary Olafson
Excused Absence: Cynthy Mandl, Eric Melendez
New Member:Tenzin Dolkar
Meeting Minutes: Minutes of September 18th meeting approved
Treasurer's report: $2,856.58
Heredia updates:
Sculpture updates: no updates
Richfield Park: no updates
Fundraising: no updates`
Adopt a tree program: Cynthy developed a form with a description of the project and donation
information. It was available to distribute at Penn Fest.
Marketing Materials: Ran out of brochures at Penn Fest. We need to get printing estimates to
produce more.
Old Business:
Facebook page still is up for discussion.
New Business:
Commission Allotment from Council—it was brought to our aftention that we have $500 in
funding by the City Council.
Roger will present our annual report to the city council on October 2gtn
Future trip to Costa Rica is marked on Feb/Mar 2016
Adjourn —8:15pm
Next meeting November 215t 2014
Respectfully submitted by: Mary Olafson,.Secretary RFCC
RICHFIELD FRIENDSHIP CITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT - 2014
Richfield Friendship City Commission has had a relationship with our friendship city
Heredia, Costa Rica for 24 years. We are pleased to have two additional members and two
student members to the commission who have already made a difference.
We welcome back Cynthy Mandl, Richfield's Ambassador to Costa Rica, who has
returned last January from her 2 year stay in country with her husband. We have missed
them.
This year we have been involved with:
- The Unity in the Community celebration
- Pennfest
Giving out free Costa Rican coffee and talking to many in our community.
We got some direction as to a possible new sculpture from the sculptor Guillermo
Hernandez who sculpted `Alianza' that is in Bakin park. We are working with the Arts
commission and the Parks department on this.
In Heredia, a park is being built to be named "Richfield Park" one block away from the
family I stayed with on our trip to Costa Rica in 2011.
We are initiating an "Adopt a Tree" promotion to raise funds for tree planting and
neighborhood connections for the care of the trees planted in the Heredia park named
"Richfield Park"..
As I noted I my las#year's report, the signage in Heredia Park is still missing. We do
appreciate the moving of the oxcart out of the heat of the sun's drying rays.
It is with great hope that the commission would sponsor another trip to visit Costa Rica
in the spring of 2016. Many things have to come together to make it all happen. When the
trip is determined, then we will solicit those interested to travel.
I anticipate this report to be my last report to the Council as I arn passing the torch to
another next year and then I will hit term limits for this commission.
Thank you, Roger Swanson Chair, Friendship City Commission
Richfield Friendship City Commission Meeting Minutes
Richfield Municipal Building - Heredia Room 7:OOPM for July 17th 2014
Attendance: Dave Delzer, Rori Woods, Roger Swanson, Cynthy Mandl, Eric Melendez,
Ahmad Ansari, and Mary Olafson
Excused Absence: All members in attendance
Meeting Minutes: Minutes of the June 19th meeting were approved
Treasurer's report: Approved (Banking Address has been updated.) $2,953.03 total
accounts and CD 1,084.07 grand total of $4,037
A bill for the CR coffee and Hot Chocolate of $29.85 was submitted by Dave Delzer
Heredia updates:
Sculpture updates: Cynthy is communicating with CR artist Guillermo Hernandez.
Cynthy is looking into the foundry that cast the Tree, and Marty Kirsch on the bench
sculptures for local artist's Norm Holen and Jane Frees-Kluth. Jim Topitzhofer and
Kevin Klose are looking into costs.
Richfield Park in Heredia: Fund raising for the park was discussed. "Adopt a Tree"
donation program would be a great fundraiser and be a good way to connect CR
families with Richfield residents. Knick off of the the fundraiser would be at Penn Fest
in September,
Marketing Materials:
Reviewed initial Tri-Fold brochure that Rori designed. Hoping to have the brochure
available for Penn Fest. Rory will also revive our FaceBook page.
Trip to Costa Rica: Possibly Feb-Mar 2016
Old Business:
New Business:
Penn Fest - Sunday Sept 21 st 12-4pm. Deadline is Sept 8th to sign up.
Ahmad, Eric and Roger will set-up. Items discussed to use or display; Soccer net and
ball, Heredia soccer jersey, crayons and drawing paper. The commission voted and
approved to purchase a new sign. Roger will report back at our next meeting the price
for a 2X6 sign.
Adjourn - 8:15pm
Next meeting is August 21 st in the Heredia room.
Respectfully submitted by: Mary Olafson, Secretary RFCC
Richfield Friendship City Commission
Meeting Minutes
11:00 AM December 20, 2014
6401 14t''Ave So, Richfield, MN
The meeting was called to order by Roger Swanson. Those present were Roger
Swanson, Ahmad Ansari, Dave Delzer, Rori Coleman-Woods, and our Friendship
City Ambassador, Cynthy Mandl. Mary Olafson, Eric Melendez and Tenzin
Dolkar were excused.
Meeting Minutes for November 20th were approved as corrected. The
treasurer's report was given; there is $4606.21 with $1758.59 in checking.
Donations for Parque Richfield include $1500 from Marty Kirsch(for a specific
project) and $75 from others. We expect more to be coming.
Cynthy Mandl gave an update on items regarding Heredia. She has just returned
from there and met with the artist and Alvaro Quesada regarding the sculpture for
our Heredia Park. The artist is donating his services but casting is expensive. A
bronze metal sculpture would probably have to be done in Mexico at considerable
cost. He recommended using a resin with bronze powder that he could work with
in his studio. The cost would be approximately $1000. Shipping would be extra.
She has been working with Jim Topizhofer, who is in charge of our parks, and with
Kevin Klos of the Arts Commission. It was moved to ask Cynthy to develop a
written proposal that we could use to obtain reimbursement from the City (there is
$500 per year budgeted) and/or use to solicit help from donors.
Our next trip to Costa Rica is tentatively scheduled for March 2016.
Our next meeting will be January 15th,2015. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, David Delzer